Wheelbarrow



(No Model.)

rR. A. KNEELAND.

\ WHEBLBARROW. No. 605,316. Patented June 7, 1898.'

NrrED STATES- :IATENT OFFICE.

REMUs A. KNEELAND, ou BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

wHEELBARRow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 605,316, dated June 7, 1898.

Application filed April 3, 1896. Serial No. 586,094. (No model.) l

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, REMUS A. KNEELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Benton I-larbor,;inthe county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented, a certain new and useful Improvement `in Wheelbarrows, o f which the following is a specification. j j A My invention relates to improvements in wheelbarrows, although the Yimprovement is adapted to other styles of similar vehicles. It is capable of use as an attachment to wheelbarrows now in use.

The immediate objects of my invention are, first, to provide a wheelbarrow in which the handles shall be automatically supported and relieve the user from heavy loads upon the same; second, to provide a wheelbarrow with an adjustable auxiliary rear wheel so "arranged that the operative can manipulate the barrow in such a manner that he can pass it easily over obstructions in the path, and other objects appearing denitely in the detailed description.- I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices and means de-` scribed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a wheelbarrow embodying all of the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the frame and bars carrying the rear wheel.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is an enlarged detail view of the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the rear portion of the wheelbarrow, showing jthe position` of the up of side pieces C C, which carry the axle of the auxiliary wheel B below. Arms D D are pivoted to each end of the' axle and extend upwardly and forwardly and are pivoted t0 the handles at F., A The sides ofthe frame C extend up through suitable loop-guides G on thehandles A. `ltatchet-teeth are formed at `the rear of thesame for` 'engaging theloop G `to automatically adjust the parts. yvers E E are provided for throwing the side vpieces forward to disengage the teeth thereon Lfrom .the guides G.` These are so situated lthat they can be 4readily operated by the user `of the wheelbarrow without releasing his hold 'upon the handles.; A cross-piece II is prov Little levided betweenthe side pieces C C, j ust above the wheel against whichthe operator can `place his foot or knee to operate the ratchet `to permit of the lowering of the handles.

Having thus described the parts of my improved'wheelbarrow and their relations, an inspection of the same will readily indicate the uses and results accomplished by the various parts.` ,The user of this wheelbarrow grasps the handles in the ordinary Way and straightens up with them until the handles l come to the right point, corrcspondingto the height of the person. The ratchet-teeth on the side pieces C engage the guide G at that height and relieve the weight from the hands The wheel B- drops down to the position corresponding to that indicated in Fig. `5. All that the user is then obliged't do is to retain sufficient hold upon the handle to keep the wheelbarrowfrom tipping over and push it forward, which requires very littlel effort compared with the old style wheelbarrow, and the weight is distributed on both of the wheels. In passing an obstruc- `tion the user bears down heavily upon the handles, which lightens the load Vupon the front wheel, so that it can pass obstructions of considerable size without diliiculty. When it is desired to set the barrow down, the little levers E are pressed, which throws the side pieces C out of engagement, and the barrow is set down in the usual way, or, as I indi# cated above, the user can press his foot or knee against the rod Il and disengage the partsin` like manner.

Having thus described myimprovedwheelf barrow and its functions ill-detail, I willstate that the details of construction can be considerably varied without departing from iny invention, and the adjustable auxiliary supporting and carrying wheel can be made use of in various styles of push-carts and vehi; cles of like character.

IOC)

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-.

. l. The combination with a wheelbarrow;

of an auxiliary wheel B; a frame composed of side pieces C, secured to the axle of said wheel;

and having notches at t-heir upper ends; crossbar H, between the side pieces C, above the said wheel B; arms D, D, pivoted to the axle at each side of the wheel extending upwardly and forwardly and pivotally connected to the handles of the wheelbarrow; loop-guides G, G, on the handles of the wheelbarrow for receiving the side pieces C,- C, and engaging the ratchet-notches thereon; levers E, E, pivoted to the handles ot the wheelbarrow positioned to act upon the side pieces C, C, andthrow them out of engagement with the guides G, all' coacting together substan tially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with a wheelbarrow;

of an auxiliary wheel B; a frame composed of side pieces C, secured to the axle of said wheel; and having notches Ain their upper ends; arms D, D, pivoted to the axle at each side of the wheel extending upwardly and forwardly and pivotally connected to the handles of the wheelbarrow; loop-guides G, G, on the handles of the wheelbarrow for receiving the si-de pieces C, C, and engaging the ratchet-notches therein; levers E, E, pivoted to the handles of the wheelba'rrow' positioned to act upon the side pieces C, C, and throw them out of engagement with the guides G, all coacti'ng together substantially as described for the purpose specified.

' 3. The combination inawheelbarrow of an I auxiliary rear wheel; bars D, D, pivoted to t said wheelbarrow and extending downwardly and rearwardly and connecting to thev said f u auxiliary wheel and arms C, C, extending upg wardly said wheel; and suitable means ot adjustably connecting the same to the handle of, the wheelbarrow to adjust the same to any height desired as specified.

4. The combination of a wheelbarrow of an auxiliary wheel downwardly and rearwardly extending bars pivotally connecting said wheel and wheelbarrow together; loop-guides on the handle of said wheelbarrow; upwardlyextending bars from said wheel having 3 ratchet-notches to engage the loop-notches 1 on the handles; and levers E, pivoted to the handles to throw said ratchet-bars out of en- Qgagement for the purpose specified.

5. In an attachment for a-wheelbarrow, a

:wheel B, with side pieces D, D, and C, C,

pivotally secured to the axle thereof; and

'I suitable means of securing the opposite ends v of said sides to the barrow as specified.

6. The combination of a wheelbarrow; an

@auxiliary wheel 'to the rear of said wheelbarrow; a frame for carrying said rear wheel :ifreely movable vertically in relation'tov the I, handles of said wheelbarrow,a suitable ratchet g con nection for securing said rear wheel automatically to the handles of the wheelbarrow to control the height of the handles as they are raised, and means of releasing the ratchet connection to permit the handles to be lowered with relation to the rear wheel for the 5 purpose specified.

. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my v,hand and aflixed my seal in the presence of "two witnesses.

REMUS A. KNEELAND. [Ly s] Vitnesses:

J. N. REED, ALBERT SYKEs. 

